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Tag: Devon Achane

  • Atlanta Falcons fall to Miami Dolphins 34-10 in Cousins’ return to starting lineup

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    Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) got the start on Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Falcons lost the coin toss. Lost the rushing battle between Bijan Robinson and Miami’s De’Von Achane. Lost the return of Kirk Cousins to the starting lineup. Lost the game, 34-10.

    The Falcons lost everything.

    “Tough day at the office,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “It was a tough day all around.”

    Morris admitted Miami dominated the game from start to finish. He was correct.

    The Dolphins gained 141 yards on the ground today. The Falcons had just 45.

    The Dolphins’ offense had 24 first downs. The Falcons only managed 11.

    Miami came into Sunday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 1-6 overall record and a three-game losing streak. The last victory was against the New York Jets, who have not won a game this season. The Dolphins are now 2-6.

    The Falcons were playing their last home game for two weeks, as Atlanta will be in New England next Sunday, and in Germany to face the Indianapolis Colts, one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 season, the following Sunday, Nov. 9.

    Atlanta has had difficulty scoring touchdowns this season. The Falcons have managed to score more than 25 points once in six games. That 34-point game came against the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 28. It remains the best overall co-performance from the Falcons’ defense and offense. In his second year with the franchise, offensive coordinator Zach Robinson doesn’t seem to have created an offensive identity for the Falcons’ offense.

    Enter Kirk Cousins (21-31 for 173 yards on Sunday), who hasn’t started a game since Dec. 12, 2024, when the Falcons defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on the road, 15-9. In that game, Cousins was 11-17 for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier had a combined 34 carries during that game for a combined 168 yards.

    After the game, Cousins was asked how it felt to be back out there as a starter. He told The Atlanta Voice, “Anytime you don’t have a win, it’s a tough day, but certainly the first time being back out there in 10 months, playing live football, it’s always good to get that experience.”

    The Dolphins, on the other hand, have scored more than 24 points four times this season despite losing more than 90% of their games. Something had to give on Sunday.

    Miami scored the first touchdown of the game on its second possession. After a long drive that included a pass interference call on Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa found running back De’Von Achane for a five-yard reception and touchdown. 

    Early on in the game, Cousins’ veteran presence and experience helped the Falcons advance the ball and reduce turnovers. On a fourth and three, Cousins found tight end Kyke Pits Sr. for a first down. A few plays before that, Cousins threw the ball out of play after being flushed out of the pocket. He didn’t force a throw he knew he couldn’t make. That drive ended in a successful 45-yard field goal attempt by Parker Romo. 

    With Miami ahead 7-3, the Dolphins put together a two-minute drive that ended in a 34-field goal which gave them a 10-3 lead. The short field came courtesy of special teams play, both good and bad. 

    The good: The Dolphins punted down to the Falcons’ one-yard line following their previous offensive possession.

    The bad: Falcons punter Bradley Pinion’s 41-yard punt landed in Falcons territory. The positive return gave the Dolphins a scoring opportunity. 

    Tagovailoa found several Dolphins receivers other than leading receiver Jayden Waddle for first downs during the game, including Achane, tight end Tanner Connor, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. It’s a wonder how this team was 1-6 before Sunday. 

    With 11 seconds remaining in the first half, Tagovailoa found receiver Malik Washington for his second touchdown throw of the game. With that touchdown, the Dolphins were ahead 17-3 at halftime, their best first-half offensive performance of the season.

    During the second half of the game, the Falcons’ offense had some motion before Robinson fumbled deep in Dolphins territory. Miami cornerback Tyrel Dodson recovered the fumble on the Dolphins’ 16-yard line. There was little, if any, consistency with the Falcons’ offense. Prior to the fumble, Cousins found Robinson on a screen play for 17 yards. 

    The Atlanta defense has been the most consistent part of this season thus far. The Falcons had allowed an opponent to score more than 28 points only once this season. That string of play ended when the Dolphins scored their 30th point of the game on a pass from Tagovailoa to running back Ollie Gordion II early in the fourth quarter. Gordon II had been sharing carries with Achane throughout the game and remained a threat to score. The extra point following Gordon II’s touchdown catch made the score 31-3.

    Miami would manage another field goal, and the Falcons scored their first field goal of the game on a run by running back Tyler Allgeier. The score was his third of the season.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Temple Looks to Have Speed Up the Sidelines – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Temple Looks to Have Speed Up the Sidelines – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Watch Out, Eagles and Phillies. Owl Speed Is Taking Over South Philly on Saturdays.

    Eagles fans attending home games in South Philly will have to wait until mid-September for a Jalen Hurts to Devonta Smith or AJ Brown connection. If you find yourself nervous about the wait, do not be troubled. The Phillies may not be the only team hitting home runs in the Stadium Complex on Saturdays this fall.

    Temple’s football team has a fast addition. Chester native Ashton Allen is now part of the Temple Owls football team for the 2024 season. Allen has been in consideration for football before, previously getting offers from Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh.

    Allen spent four seasons as a sprinter for the USC Trojans on the Track and Field Team, competing with his two brothers. Although never ruling out the possibility of playing football at USC, Allen entered the transfer portal this year and will be a dynamic addition to the Owls Football Program.

    He may, in fact, have his sights set on larger goals. Sprinters have made an impact on the NFL over the years. Jim Thorpe was a multi-event Olympic competitor, and Devon Allen is the most decorated track and field athlete currently in the NFL. Miami Dolphins Jaylen Waddle and Jaylen Ramsey, as well as running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane, also have past experience in Track and Field.

    Temple basketball has also added great talent when it comes to speed. This week, it announced its first commit of 2025, a local West Chester native and three-star standout, Cam Wallace.

    At six foot five, the 8th ranked high school player in the state of PA turned down other offers from Texas A&M and Cincinnati to keep his size and speed in Philadelphia.

    The following two years will be an exciting time for Owl Athletics. And a speedy one. And besides, Philly kids always come home.

    PHOTO: Temple Basketball/X

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Justin Jefferson, De’Von Achane expected to miss time with injuries; Travis Kelce makes progress

    Justin Jefferson, De’Von Achane expected to miss time with injuries; Travis Kelce makes progress

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    Week 5 proved to be brutal on the NFL injury front.

    Beyond Giants quarterback Daniel Jones’ neck pain and Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker’s season-ending Achilles tear, notable players across the league suffered injuries Sunday.

    Several of their outlooks were reported on Tuesday:

    JUSTIN JEFFERSON, VIKINGS

    The superstar wide receiver is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, making him ineligible to play in Minnesota’s next four games, according to ESPN.

    Jefferson, 24, camp up gimpy after running a route during the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ loss to the Chiefs and did not return.

    “We’re going to have to medically make a good decision and help almost protect him from himself a little bit in a way where we’ve got to take care of him and get him back to 100%,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.

    Jefferson, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has 36 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns this season.

    The Vikings are now 1-4 and missing their best player for at least a month. Last month, some analysts linked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, an impending free agent, to the Jets as a trade target following Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tear.

    In Jefferson’s absence, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison, fellow wideout KJ Osborn and tight end TJ Hockenson figure to receive more targets.

    De’VON ACHANE, DOLPHINS

    The rookie running back has been a revelation for Miami, using his elite speed to rush for 460 yards and score seven total touchdowns over the last three games.

    Achane’s knee injury in Sunday’s win over the Giants flew under the radar, but ESPN reported Tuesday that the 21-year-old sensation is expected to miss multiple weeks and could end up on IR as well.

    The high-powered Dolphins have enviable depth at running back, with Raheem Mostert off to a strong start and Jeff Wilson (rib, finger) now eligible to return from injured reserve.

    But the loss of Achane is still disappointing for 4-1 Miami, considering he’s averaging 12.1 yards per carry and was receiving an increased workload.

    JAMES CONNER, CARDINALS

    The veteran running back finds himself in a similar situation as Achane, with a knee injury expected to cost Conner multiple weeks, according to ESPN and NFL Media. Conner, too, is a candidate for IR.

    The 28-year-old has been a workhorse for Arizona, rushing for 364 yards and two touchdowns this season before getting injured in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals.

    Emari Demercado, an undrafted rookie out of TCU, ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries Sunday and should receive an increased role with Conner out. The Cardinals (1-4) also claimed veteran running back Tony Jones Jr. off waivers.

    TRAVIS KELCE, CHIEFS

    In a more positive update, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Travis Kelce would practice Tuesday after injuring his ankle two days earlier.

    Kelce, 33, briefly left Sunday’s win over the Vikings but returned and caught a touchdown. The tight end missed Week 1 with a knee injury and was considered a non-participant on Monday’s estimated walkthrough practice report due to his latest ailment.

    Tuesday brought better news for fans of the Chiefs and of Taylor Swift, who is rumored to be dating Kelce and has attended two of his games this season.

    “He’s done well,” Reid said Tuesday. “He’s gotten quite a little bit of treatment on it and he’s a little bit feeling better.”

    The Chiefs (4-1) host the Broncos (1-4) on Thursday night.

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    Peter Sblendorio

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  • South Carolina rides fast start to 30-24 win over Texas A&M

    South Carolina rides fast start to 30-24 win over Texas A&M

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    COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina opened strong with 17 points in the first six minutes — sparked when Xavier Legette took the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown — then held on to beat Texas A&M 30-24 on Saturday night.

    The Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and turned a fumble and interception deep in Aggies territory into 10 more points and a 17-0 hole for Texas A&M (3-4, 1-3) just over five minutes in.

    It’s the first time the Gamecocks have beaten the Aggies since the SEC made them their Western Division rival in 2014 and the first time they’ve won four in a row since 2013, shaking off a 48-7 loss to No. 1 Georgia in the third game of the season.

    “A month ago, I was asked if this team quit. That look like this team has quit?” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said.

    MarShawn Lloyd ran 18 times for 92 yards and had both of South Carolina’s touchdowns in the second half to keep Texas A&M from climbing back in it.

    Spencer Rattler was 12-of-25 passing for 168 yards for South Carolina.

    “We never quit. We keep fighting. That’s what we are about,” Rattler said.

    Devon Achane ran 20 times for 99 yards for the Aggies. Hayes King was 17-of-32 passing for 178 yards, with a touchdown and an interception before leaving with an injury to his throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter. Coach Jimbo Fisher said he kept Hayes out of the rest of the game as a precaution.

    Freshman Conner Weigman filled in and threw for 91 yards but neither of his two final Hail Mary tries made it to the end zone after Texas A&M recovered an onside kick at midfield with nine seconds left.

    The loss puts even more pressure on Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, whose team started the season ranked No. 6. The Aggies seem to play just under the level of their opponents, losing by six to South Carolina, four to No. 6 Alabama and three to Appalachian State

    “We have good players. We’re right there, It’s not like we’re getting ran out of the stadium,” Fisher said. “We’ve just got to find a way to make a play or two — all the sudden you will get over the hump. It’s just the way it goes.”

    With a contract through 2031 paying him $9 million a year, Fisher’s job likely isn’t in jeopardy. However, losing to South Carolina has been bad for several SEC coaches. Phillip Fulmer for Tennessee in 2008, Will Muschamp in 2014 and Dan Mullen in 2021 all lost their jobs shortly after losing to the Gamecocks.

    BEAMER’S CRYSTAL BALL

    Before the win earlier this month over Kentucky, Beamer told his staff he felt like South Carolina was going to recover its first fumble of the year in a key moment. It happened on the first play, the Gamecocks scored a TD the next down and never trailed.

    Beamer told his coaches before Saturday’s game he expected a big special teams play would make the difference. Ligette began the game with his kickoff-return touchdown.

    “Maybe I just need to keep speaking it into existence whatever I want to get done,” Beamer said.

    FALSE START FRENZY

    Texas A&M had eight penalties and all of them were false starts after starting a new center. Fisher said the noise at Williams-Brice stadium and miscommunication caused most of them.

    “The guys got to listen on the road. We shouldn’t have had anything like that,” Fisher said.

    THE TAKEAWAY

    Texas A&M: Plenty of people expected the Aggies to challenge Alabama in the SEC West this season. Instead, it looks like a struggle to get to six wins and a bowl game. A win over UMass is probable. After that the Aggies need two wins out of four games — Ole Miss, Florida, at Auburn and at LSU.

    South Carolina: Gamecocks fans chanted “Beamer Ball” during a late-game timeout in appreciation of second-year coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks only need to beat Missouri or Vanderbilt in the next two weeks to make a second straight bowl. And with the win, South Carolina has beaten every team in the current SEC.

    UP NEXT

    Texas A&M: The Aggies host No. 7 Ole Miss next Saturday.

    South Carolina: The Gamecocks host Missouri next Saturday.

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